Lowveld - Aug 2020

Louise Duvenage Even when given the opportunity to be at home Louise simply could not do it. “I have to work and stay busy, and could not be a stay-at-home housewife as the hustle and bustle of customers was calling me.” As the head of the paint department at BUCO Nelspruit, Louise does everything from orders to customer care to stock count, and she loves every minute of it. What she enjoys about the company is the opportunity given to grow and test your wings in all departments. “I actually started out as the head of the tile department, and was given the opportunity to develop my skills and creativity as the HOD of the paint department.” Louise adds that she loves the fact that every day presents a unique set of challenges and the opportunity to learn something new. She is not the kind of person who can sit still, and will easily jump in her vehicle to travel to a customer’s house to go assist on site. “I love to add that personal touch of assistance.” According to Louise, she enjoys working at BUCO Nelspruit as she can relate not only to like-minded people, but also because it is nice to “work for success, and this passionate company is very successful”. She still has many plans to move to other departments and learn to grow even more so she does not stagnate in one position. “I love to assist new employees to grow in themselves and their jobs, it is such a passion of mine.” She takes this role as mentor very seriously and gives back her knowledge freely. When asked what goals she has as a BUCO employee, she says she would like to go and assist the larger community by physically getting involved with projects to share her skills. “I would really like to expose the younger generation to the wonderful work environment I have.” As long as you have dreams, there is hope. Rose Dladla Rose has an unassuming air about her, yet her kind nature shines like a beacon in the dark. In her gentle voice she says she loves her job as tea maker and general cleaner at BUCO Nelspruit, where she has been employed for eight years now. It is Rose who ensures customers walk into a sparkling restroom when they visit. As a grandmother herself she knows exactly how to prioritise time and explains that might be her best attribute. “I know not to waste time and work economically to ensure I give my best before I move on to my next chore.” Rose’s day starts by cleaning the restroom, then doing dishes and cleaning the offices. Her co-workers think of her as a little mother bustling about. “Yes, they feel like family to me, and it is my duty to look after them,” she shyly admits. It is obvious that Rose takes a lot of pride in her work and she insists that she works in such a way that nobody can point a finger at her and tell her it was not good enough. “I always do my best.” Rose says her favourite part of working at BUCO is the fact that she knows her co-workers will always be there for her. “You know, if I had to get into financial trouble, for example, I know that these people will be there for me, to look after me and help me out.” She hates being away from work and seldom takes a day off sick. “If I am sick or not at work, they always ask where I was and that they missed me!” Rose feels very strongly that this company is the best shop in town. “BUCO is always full of people!” she exclaims. Her most memorable moment as an employee was her most recent birthday. “Ah, these people love me, I cried so much. They had a big cake for me, I will never forget it.” It is also Rose’s responsibility to make sure there are adequate stocks of cleaning materials and to ensure they are stored safely, away from food and drinks. 18 Get It <strong>Lowveld</strong> <strong>Aug</strong>ust 20

Anne Handley The moment an employee surpasses their one-decade mark at a company, you know you are dealing with a professional. Anne has been part of the BUCO Nelspruit family for 13 years and this shows in her in-depth knowledge of this <strong>Lowveld</strong> company and its extended family members, namely the customers. As the sales representative coordinator, Anne works with both the reps and their customers, and this includes invoicing and coordinating. “I try to get to know them on a personal level and to then just provide good service to the best of my ability.” Anne’s coworkers agree that she is one of those people who will always be friendly and supportive, no matter what the circumstances are. “I really feel like I have grown as a person in this company over the years, and got to really enjoy my job.” From invoicing and quotes and getting orders ready, to picking stock to ensuring the reps know what needs to be delivered and where, she has it all covered in her quiet and confident way. “Yes, there are always a lot of ordering of special orders placed and buy-outs, but I do enjoy the pressure of it all, I enjoy my job.” Anne loves the interaction with the clients. “Once you get to know the customers on a more personal level, understanding their needs and what they want becomes so much easier.” She adds that that is one of the biggest reasons that she always strives to go that extra mile for them. “In the end, by making the extra effort, it simply makes my own job so much easier.” Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert and reserved person, Anne’s quiet and caring nature and obvious enjoyment of her job have made her a favourite, not only among her co-workers, but also among the BUCO customers who without fail will seek her out not only for her knowledge of products, but also for her genuine concern. Rachel Venter There probably is not much that Rachel does not know about the building industry. She cut her teeth as an employee on the then Laeveld Bou, before it became BUCO Nelspruit, and was the only woman for a very long time among an all-male staff. Being the only female in such a male-dominated world simply made her more determined to succeed and to be first when it came to sales and performance. “I used to love that challenge, and today I still enjoy anything that my job throws at me,” Rachel laughs. She was recently promoted to handle all the direct special orders, and says this gives her a new kind of job satisfaction and that she is very happy with this new position. According to Rachel, despite being an old hand at this, she still learns something new each and every day and grabs at challenges with both hands. Co-workers often arrive at work to find this dedicated woman already hard at work behind her computer. “I take pride in my workplace, and try to give back the ethics of success, the best that BUCO Nelspruit gives to me.” Rachel says her job is not something she does to earn an income, but something that gives her personal joy. “I love <strong>Lowveld</strong>ers, I would move back to sales just to see more of them!” Rachel is one of those people who will go out of their way to ensure the customer receives the best possible care and service at the company. “I have a Portuguese customer in Mozambique who does not speak English, so we have a system of pictures to figure out what his order is, and so far it has worked well for both of us,” she laughs her infectious laugh. Rachel says everything at BUCO is special to her, and that there is not specifically one moment that stands out, she simply loves going to work in the mornings. “I have always given my best in everything I do, especially in the workplace.” <strong>Aug</strong>ust 20 Get It <strong>Lowveld</strong> 19